Last week, we had a very warm winter. During afternoon, there was up to 28 degree and also there was a quite humid too. That made the most early of morning during last week was very foggy. I was able to see the car just in front of mine. I even could not see the traffic light around three cars away of me. I also heard some flights are delayed last week, because of the foggy weather. That is good, this morning, when I got up the cold weather is back, the foggy morning should not appear, however, this sort of weather is so easy to get a cold!

Last Sunday, I was with a church group. We were looking for a place where was a suitable for a lunch meeting. We wish to find a place with good coffee and not very busy. Finally, we picked the Flying Pepper in Lifestyle center at Rochedale Estate.

I remember there was a coffee shop in Lifestyle, but it did not have a regular opening hours. Last year, I was in there for a couple times, but I have not seen it opening at all. That is a good news, that coffee shop is changed the management early this year, it calls Flying Pepper. I went there around noon on Sunday, there were around ten customers, not very busy. still plenty of tables available which is good for a lunch meeting. Moreover, the staff is very friendly and helpful. The menu contains some usual of items in a coffee shop such as Egg Benedict, fish & chips, also they have some Asian Favors, such as Sushi and Curry Rice. That is good for us. Lastly, they have great coffee too.

End up, we had around 8 people in there. We ordered some lunch and coffee, plus we stayed in there about two hours.

Last evening, I had a walk in Southbank. I saw some workers were setting up stalls and colourful lighting ,and a poster about a Night Noodle Markets. I think Night Noodle Markets will be held soon. I and my wife have been there for past two years. When I back home, I checked that website. Actually, Night Noodle Markets will be held on Culture Forecourt at Southbank every night from today to 31st July. Also, I checked the stalls list too. Similar as the past years, there are 20 different stalls from Asian eateries such as:

Japanese Style Pizza, Okonomi:

Hoy Pinoy, Melbourne ,making Filipino street bbq skewers.

they got some big Charcoal grills!

Also, there are some famous Brisbane eateries too such as Taro’s Ramen & Cafe and Fat Noodle.

That is great, you can get all delicious Asian dishes in one place! However, based on our experience in the past, the portion of each dish is not very big. I think you need to spend $20 to $30 each to feel full….. but that is free entry.

If you are visiting Gold Coast and want to do some shopping, there are a number of good shopping centers. During our road trip to Coffs Harbour, we chose a Robina Shopping Center as a stop-over place. I found that is a good place to do shopping. I have not been there for a few years. I found they are a lot of new sections built. There is a quite big and a lot of parking spot. Also, there are a lot of stores, such as Zara, Myer and David Jones. I went to Zara stores which is the first Queensland branch. There are Men and Women clothing, accessories and shoes. Also, when we were in there around late June, that was a End of Financial Year Sales season, thus, I found a lot of discounted items in that store. I think there were a lot of things to shop. Moreover, I went to David Jones in Pacific Fair, that sounds like targeting more high-end customers. Comparing the one in Robina Shopping center, that is more local. To sum up, that is a good place to do shopping, only disadvantages are the choice of restaurants are quite limited.

Note that, there are still some renovations happening, currently, the section where has Coles is almost completed blocked by a construction site. I think that is not good to park at that section car park(the “Purple” car park).

I found almost fasta pasta closed. All of the closed stores are opened a new restaurant calls Zingara’s Kitchen such as the stores in Brown Plains, Springwood and Harbour Town. That sounds like taking over the business from Fasta Pasta. Two weeks ago, I went to Harbour Town and checkout their store in there. I found the store are refurbished, it got a new tone. However, I checked their menu. That is very similar with before, their pasta and pizza. I checked their website, which stated their chain is a new mediterranean style casual dining restaurant. Maybe, pasta and pizza are a kind of mediterranean style food. Anyway, for myself, the price is the key factor. I checked the menu, the price is very similar with Fasta Pasta too. There are some lunch deals around $10, and 20% cash back from RACQ rewards. Thus, that is still worth to consider for having lunch.

During the road trip to Coffs Harbour from Brisbane, I stayed at Quality Inn. Coffs Harbour is not an international tourist spot, it doesn’t like Gold Coast. That is only a stop-over spot in Pacific Highway to Sydney. So, there are not any five-stars hotels which is similar with those one in Gold Coast. The accommodations in there are motel style and resort style. That is a bit hard to find a comfort and good quality place to stay. Finally, I picked Quality Inn, that is not too bad. This is a motel style accommodation, but the place is quite new and clean. Also, the room is quite big, it got a king bed, a bed, a sofa and a small living room area. But that is not bad. Moreover, it got a free wifi too.

That is a good place to stay. Lastly, their location is good, there is a woolworth within a walking distance. I did a three minutes driving to the park beach shopping where has a KFC and woolworth.

Last Saturday, I went to Hanaro Mart at Calamvale Central. I enjoyed the 20% off discount offer. I got some instance noodle. They are quite good value and there are a fair amount of people shopping there.

However, I found their goods are mainly from Korea, there are lack of some popular brands in Hong Kong, such as Nissin. Also, even they have, the price is higher than chinese grocery supermarket. Anyway, that is a supermarket running by Korean, if you are looking for somethings from Korean, such as Kimchi. That is the place.

Lastly, I joined their membership, that is free and I got a free potato chips as a welcome gift. That is good, but I found their membership card has not any discount offer, that is a reward card, one dollar earns a point, then 1000 points can get $1 discount. This is a free membership, I won’t ask for much.

Note that: someone told me, their 20% off offer is running in Calamvale, but not cofirmed.

Early of this week,i went to grocery shopping at calamvale central. I found grocery shopping is also ready to open. All interior refurbishment is done. This is very shiny. Also, i found there is a takeaway store inside. A poster said around for Japanese teriyaki chicken rice. The price is fair.Lastly, i found a post in their facebook. The store will open tomorrow and almost every thing storewide 20% off. That is great.

Last week, we brought a night of Mystery Hotel deal from Wotif for our stay in Gold Coast. This kind of Mystery Deal is very interesting, the website won’t tell you which hotel you will have before the payment is completed. Only the roughly location, such as Sufers Paradise South or Boardbeach, star rating of hotel, some facilities details are listed with the deal. Buying this deal sounds like playing lucky draw, that is fun.

We spent $111 for a 4.5 star Mystery Hotel deal at Surfers Paradise South. End up, we got a night in Crowne Plaza at Surfers Paradise. That is quite good, we got a big room, it got double beds. I think this room can accommodate up to 4 people, but the bed is double size, not king size. If you choose to have 4 people, may be that is a bit small. We got 2 people, that is very good enough for us. This room is already a Superior Room(Normally, $151 per night,save $40 per night), which is bigger than a standard room.

Also, it got a balcony which has a view of surfers paradise, although, that is not a ocean view room, I was still able to see the beach front.

For bathroom, that is very clean. The floor sounds like making of marble. That is very very good.

Apart from the room, the hotel got some facilities, such as tennis courts, pool and gym room. That is a 4.5 star hotel!

Also, I got their reward club. Then I got a free wifi too. It got 3Mbps download, that is not too bad. If you are willing to $19 per day, you can have a better speed wifi.

The club rewards included a late check-out! Instead of a standard 10am, we can checkout before 11.30am without any charge.

That is only one disadvantage, which is not free car park. You need to pay $15 per day for parking, but that is a undercover and lock-up car.

Lastly, you have to pay attention when you enter the room. You will see a bottle of wine sounds a free Complimenting wine. That is a free with terms and conditions. That is only free if both of you go to the Four Winds 360° restaurant at the top level and have their seafood buffet, then it is free. Unless you open it, then you need to pay $30 for this.